Laminaria digitata on moderately exposed sublittoral fringe rock

IR.MIR.KR.Ldig.Ldig

IR.MIR.KR.Ldig.Ldig recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Habitat description

Distribution of biotope in Britain and Ireland

Recorded from most coasts around Britain. Scarce along east coast of England, particularly between Ouse and Thames estuaries, due to turbidity and lack of hard substrata. No records from the east coast of Scotland but no doubt present.

National importance

Widespread

Description of biotope

For a full description of this biotope including characterizing species, distribution, survey information and references visit JNCC

Moderately exposed to sheltered sublittoral fringe bedrock or boulders dominated by a dense canopy of Laminaria digitata often with a wide range of filamentous and foliose red seaweeds beneath. The rocky substratum is usually covered by encrusting coralline algae, on which occasional limpets Patella spp. and top shells Gibbula spp. graze. A wide variety of fauna occurs, including the sponge Halichondria panicea, barnacles (Balanus crenatus and Semibalanus balanoides) and occasional small mussels Mytilus edulis. Kelp holdfasts provide a refuge for a varied assemblage of species including sponges (e.g. Leucosolenia spp.), anemones (Urticina felina), limpets (Helcion pellucidum), crustaceans, encrusting bryozoans and colonial ascidians. This biotope is usually found beneath the Fucus serratus zone (MLR.Fser) and above the truly sublittoral Laminaria hyperborea zone (MIR.Lhyp). Other canopy-forming kelps such as Alaria esculenta and Laminaria saccharina, may occur although never at high abundance (compare with EIR.Ala.Ldig and SIR.Lsac.Ldig respectively). In areas where tidal water movement is increased, a richer L. digitata-dominated biotope (MIR.Ldig.T) generally replaces the sheltered shore Laminaria saccharina (SIR.Lsac) biotope. (Information taken from the Marine Biotope Classification for Britain and Ireland, Version 97.06: Connor et al., 1997a, b).